Four Clinton School students worked with Governor Mike Beebe’s “No Kid Hungry Campaign” to identify and bridge gaps in programs that feed hungry children across Arkansas.
“Hungry children have a tougher time learning than other students, which means that hunger threatens their ability to succeed in school,” Beebe said. “The campaign to feed our children and end childhood hunger is an investment in the future of Arkansas.”
In order to determine where children currently receive food on nights and weekends, the Clinton School team interviewed food banks and surveyed over 1,000 feeding programs. They collected basic information on these programs’ operations and impact, and produced a set of tools that will help the campaign connect with, learn from and support these efforts.
Many children are unsure where their next meal will come from when not in school. For this reason, the campaign is giving attention to a number of programs that feed children on nights and weekends, when their access to food may be limited.
These tools consist of a directory of all identified non-congregate programs, a set of complimentary maps produced in collaboration with Anthony Davis at the Arkansas Geographic Information Office and an analysis of survey results.
“The outcomes of the students’ work will be instrumental in carrying out the next phase of our efforts to end childhood hunger in Arkansas,” said Joyce Hardy, director of the campaign.
The Clinton School team consists of Jordan Aibel of Miami, Fla., Katie Longino of Lufkin, Texas, Dylan Perry of Memphis, Tenn., and Andrea Price of Monticello, Ark. The team presented the results of their efforts at the general campaign meeting on March 14.
The students completed the project as part of the Clinton School’s Practicum program, the first of three field service projects in the Master of Public Service degree program.
Responses